Get ready for a rootin’ tootin’ showdown between the Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables versus the Clean 15 health boosters.
While you can avoid potentially harmful chemicals by choosing organic fruits and vegetables, it’s also way too easy to rack up an extensive food bill. The Dirty Dozen should be organic as much as possible in order to avoid pesticide-related toxicities that disrupt the nervous and endocrine system, while the Clean 15 are more protected even when grown traditionally.
Dirty Dozen Fruits & Vegetables
In order from largest to smallest percentage of pesticides.*
Apples. 99 percent of samples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue.
Strawberries. Single samples showed 13 different pesticides apiece.
Grapes. Just one single sample contained 15 pesticides.
Celery. Single samples showed 13 different pesticides apiece.
Peaches.
Spinach.
Bell Peppers.
Nectarines. Every sample tested positive for at least one pesticide residue.
Cucumbers.
Cherry Tomatoes. Single samples showed 13 different pesticides apiece.
Snap Peas. Single samples showed 13 different pesticides apiece.
Potatoes. The average one had more pesticides by weight than any other food.
Clean 15 Fruits & Vegetables
In order from smallest to largest percentage of pesticides.*
Avocados. Only 1 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides.
Sweet Corn.
Pineapple. 89 percent had no residues.
Cabbage.
Sweet Peas.
Onions.
Asparagus.
Mangoes. 88 percent had no residues.
Papayas. 80 percent had no residues.
Kiwi. 82 percent had no residues.
Eggplant.
Grapefruit.
Cantaloupe. 61 percent had no residues.
Cauliflower.
Sweet Potatoes.
*Percentages courtesy of the Environmental Working Group website. Check out their site for more in-depth (read: nerdy) information about pesticides and produce.
